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(Hypertension. 1999;34:247-252.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Effect of Magnesium Deficiency on Autonomic Circulatory Regulation in Conscious Rats

Yoshinobu Murasato; Yuji Harada; Masaharu Ikeda; Yasuhide Nakashima; Yoshiaki Hayashida

From the Departments of Systems Physiology (Y.M., Y. Harada, Y. Hayashida), Health Development (M.I.), and Internal Medicine (Y.N.), University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Correspondence to Yoshinobu Murasato, MD, PhD, Department of Systems Physiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. E-mail murasato{at}med.uoeh-u.ac.jp

Abstract—A close relationship between magnesium and cardiovascular function has been reported; however, the effect of magnesium deficiency on autonomic cardiovascular regulation has not been clarified. We investigated the effect of magnesium deficiency on the autonomic regulation of oscillations of the R-R interval, arterial blood pressure (BP), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) by using the maximum entropy method in conscious rats. Its effect on baroreflex control of RSNA and heart rate were also investigated with a logistic function curve. Mean BP in magnesium-deficient rats was higher than that in control rats (mean±SE, 114.0±4.3 versus 101.6±3.4 mm Hg; P<0.05), and urinary excretion of catecholamine was increased by 2.4-fold. The fraction of low-frequency oscillation of RSNA was reduced (31.7±0.9% versus 36.2±1.5%, P<0.05) and the correlation between low-frequency oscillations of BP and RSNA was weakened in magnesium-deficient rats. There was no difference in high-frequency oscillation of the R-R interval, which is related to vagal tone, whereas sympathetic tone became dominant (square root of low-frequency/high-frequency ratio of R-R interval, 1.00±0.05 versus 0.67±0.05, P<0.0001) in magnesium-deficient rats. The maximal gain in the BP-RSNA relation tended to be reduced in magnesium-deficient rats (-7.7±1.1% versus -12.2±1.9%/mm Hg, P=0.07); however, that in the BP–heart rate relation was increased (-8.1±0.7 versus -4.5±0.5 bpm/mm Hg, P<0.01). These results suggest that magnesium deficiency induces sympathetic excitation, which results in hypertension but attenuates the baroreflex-related response of sympathetic nerves, whereas magnesium deficiency enhances the sensitivity of the sinus node to autonomic regulation.

Key Words: magnesium deficiency • baroreflex • sympathetic nerve • autonomic nervous system • spectral analysis

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